Borderlands PC versions printed after the release date? [Archive]

Syvere

10-22-2009, 02:25 PM

Hi,
There's a rumour going on that PC versions printed after the release date won't have this ridiculous online activation DRM on them. Is this true? I would appreciate if 2K games representative would give some real answers for once. It's really regrettable you guys didn't learn anything from BioShock fiasco.

Rebelphoenix

10-22-2009, 02:27 PM

Derangel

10-22-2009, 02:46 PM

Syvere

10-22-2009, 02:51 PM

According to people who have the game there is no CD key so that means there is no online activation. There is only a release date check and possibly a CD check. There is nothing they have to remove after next week.

The game requires response from SecuRom servers for the release date check which, in my books, is just as bad as the real online activations. I SHOULD NOT have to be forced to have connection to the internet just to play a game I have PAID for. Besides once SecuRom serves go belly-up you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME (or even install it).

Derangel

10-22-2009, 02:53 PM

The game requires response from SecuRom servers for the release date check which, in my books, is just as bad as the real online activations. I SHOULD NOT have to be forced to have connection to the internet just to play a game I have PAID for. Besides once SecuRom serves go belly-up you WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY THE GAME (or even install it).

The SR servers in question are run by 2K so unless 2K goes belly up they're staying put. Having a simple check isn't anywhere close to activation. It doesn't limit anything, it just prevents any leaked copies (aka pirated) from being played online before release thus eliminating (theoretically) zero day piracy which is probably the biggest issue with piracy.

Syvere

10-22-2009, 02:58 PM

The SR servers in question are run by 2K so unless 2K goes belly up they're staying put. Having a simple check isn't anywhere close to activation. It doesn't limit anything, it just prevents any leaked copies (aka pirated) from being played online before release thus eliminating (theoretically) zero day piracy which is probably the biggest issue with piracy.

But my dear friend I buy games so that I can play them whenever I want, where I want. Be it 30 years from now in a deserted island to the comfort of my home. I refuse to buy any game that requires external third party components to install and/or run the software. This kind of DRM is punishing only legal customers, not pirates who can just download the game, burn it to a dvd and be done with it. They can play whenever they want with no hassle. It's ridiculous how the market has degraded to this point.

Derangel

10-22-2009, 03:04 PM

But my dear friend I buy games so that I can play them whenever I want, where I want be it 30 years from now in a deserted island to the comfort of my home. I refuse to buy any game that requires external third party components to install and/or run the software. This kind of DRM is punishing only legal customers, not pirates who can just download the game, burn it to a dvd and be done with it. They can play whenever they want with no hassle. It's ridiculous how the market has degraded to this point.

As nice as that thought is, 2K is a publicly traded company. They can't just sit back and do nothing without their stock holders, who care about nothing other than the stocks, getting rather angry if they perceive that sales are being lost due to piracy. The news media has panted to nasty picture of piracy mostly due to crap from the RIAA and MPAA. Studios are slowly learning. The Spore fiasco must have been a wake up call to a lot of people. A release check is something much simpler than limited activations and presumably can be patched out a lot easier in the future. Though it would seem to be utterly pointless to include it in copies printed after the release date has past.

Syvere

10-22-2009, 03:08 PM

A release check is something much simpler than limited activations and presumably can be patched out a lot easier in the future. Though it would seem to be utterly pointless to include it in copies printed after the release date has past.

Unfortunately it cannot be patched. DVD Roms are read-only media and that effectively means that all copies of the game are useless once the servers get closed down. The best they can do is allow unlimited activations like with BioShock, but they don't have to do that with Borderlands as it's only a release date check. What I want to know for a fact that is this stupid online check in the future prints as well or just the first print. No speculation, no rumors just hard facts from the publisher or the developer.

EDIT: and I know 2K doesn't care about anything else than money. But even the retards making these DRM decisions have to learn sometime. For example Dragon Age will have only disc check and online activations are largely a thing of the past EXCEPT for 2K games (and 2008 Ubisoft). The fact is that even PC consumers provide money for the company and it's largely a bad idea to piss off your consumer base.

Derangel

10-22-2009, 03:13 PM

Unfortunately it cannot be patched. DVD Roms are read-only media and that effectively means that all copies of the game are useless once the servers get closed down. The best they can do is allow unlimited activations like with BioShock, but they don't have to do that with Borderlands as it's only a release date check. What I want to know for a fact that is this stupid online check in the future prints as well or just the first print. No speculation, no rumors just hard facts from the publisher or the developer.

EDIT: and I know 2K doesn't care about anything else than money. But even the retards making these DRM decisions have to learn sometime. For example Dragon Age will have only disc check and online activations are largely a thing of the past EXCEPT for 2K games (and 2008 Ubisoft). The fact is that even PC consumers provide money for the company and it's largely a bad idea to piss off your consumer base.

Hm, good point. I suppose they could release an updated exe or installer, but that would present its own problems. Either way, I hope you get an answer.

Sims 3 however, required you to go online in order to get everything for the game. So EA isn't completely free of that stuff yet.

Syvere

10-22-2009, 03:16 PM

Hm, good point. I suppose they could release an updated exe or installer, but that would present its own problems. Either way, I hope you get an answer.

Sims 3 however, required you to go online in order to get everything for the game. So EA isn't completely free of that stuff yet.

Sims 3 had online component of the game where you could upload your own sims online or get extra furniture and stuff. Basic online mode in other words. It's not DRM as you could play the single player modes just as well without any online connection.

2K Elizabeth

10-22-2009, 03:35 PM

Unfortunately it cannot be patched. DVD Roms are read-only media and that effectively means that all copies of the game are useless once the servers get closed down. The best they can do is allow unlimited activations like with BioShock, but they don't have to do that with Borderlands as it's only a release date check. What I want to know for a fact that is this stupid online check in the future prints as well or just the first print. No speculation, no rumors just hard facts from the publisher or the developer.

EDIT: and I know 2K doesn't care about anything else than money. But even the retards making these DRM decisions have to learn sometime. For example Dragon Age will have only disc check and online activations are largely a thing of the past EXCEPT for 2K games (and 2008 Ubisoft). The fact is that even PC consumers provide money for the company and it's largely a bad idea to piss off your consumer base.

Hey there,

To be clear, there are no activation limits for this game. It is a one time online check, and then your CD has to be in the drive. That's all.

And I certainly care about you guys more than money. I take great pride in that.

Syvere

10-22-2009, 03:43 PM

Hey there,

To be clear, there are no activation limits for this game. It is a one time online check, and then your CD has to be in the drive. That's all.

Let me clarify. I don't want to have to be online in order to install this game or any other. Will this release date check be removed in future prints of the PC version as the rumor says?

And I certainly care about you guys more than money. I take great pride in that.

Communicating with us is a part of your job and earns your salary. No shame in that. If you would, could you please ask someone making these DRM decisions my question? "Will future prints of PC version require you to have online connection in order to install and/or play the game?" Thank in advance.

Derangel

10-22-2009, 03:44 PM

Hey there,

To be clear, there are no activation limits for this game. It is a one time online check, and then your CD has to be in the drive. That's all.

And I certainly care about you guys more than money. I take great pride in that.

I think what he was wondering is if that will be removed in future printings of the game after the release date.

You definitely gave that impression back before the Bioshock launch and right after it when the forums were a bit crazy. That had to be hard.

That Bioshock syringe pen still gets looks when I take it out to use it. Love that thing.

2K Elizabeth

10-22-2009, 04:48 PM

Let me clarify. I don't want to have to be online in order to install this game or any other. Will this release date check be removed in future prints of the PC version as the rumor says?

Communicating with us is a part of your job and earns your salary. No shame in that. If you would, could you please ask someone making these DRM decisions my question? "Will future prints of PC version require you to have online connection in order to install and/or play the game?" Thank in advance.

I will work on this for you, but for now, I'm focusing on launch. I'm sure you can understand that.

Thanks.

Syvere

10-22-2009, 04:54 PM

I will work on this for you, but for now, I'm focusing on launch. I'm sure you can understand that.

Thanks.

Absolutely! I can imagine releases being quite hectic over there.
Thanks for listening. Looking forward to more info on this matter!

unkoil

10-23-2009, 10:36 AM

thanks for bringing this up Syvere.
Canceled my pre-order until we get confirmation.

Syvere

10-23-2009, 11:16 AM

thanks for bringing this up Syvere.
Canceled my pre-order until we get confirmation.

Let's just hope we actually get some clear answers on this.

WTF2K

10-23-2009, 12:46 PM

I will work on this for you, but for now, I'm focusing on launch. I'm sure you can understand that.

Thanks.

Focusing on launch? You've got all weekend, remember?

Yargoed

10-23-2009, 04:06 PM

Let me clarify. I don't want to have to be online in order to install this game or any other. Will this release date check be removed in future prints of the PC version as the rumor says?

Anytime I've ever seen protection removed its been through a patch, not future retail copies. Its rare to see retail copies changed in future printings.
That alone says the rumor is almost certainly false. Also if you buy the game on Steam you dont get that silly securom stuff.

Laser Eyes

10-26-2009, 06:41 AM

Having a simple check isn't anywhere close to activation.

Would you mind explaining what practical difference there is between an online 'check' and online 'activation'?

BitRogue

10-30-2009, 05:02 AM

Hi, I'd like to bump this thread.

The game is being released here in the UK today (Hooraah!!) but I am still a bit unclear about the online check. I travel a lot for my company and while Im at home, my desktop is connected to the internet almost 24/7 so I guess, with a bit of grumbling, Im OK for the online check.

However, I have a gaming laptop I take with me on my travels and I'd say more than half the hotels I stay at have a paid only internet service, with which I usually don't bother (since I cant claim for it anyway). But I still want to play Borderlands single player in the evenings / weekends. Is this online check going to happen every time I power up the game, or only the first time (ie I can install and run it once at home and then Im free to play remotely to my hearts content)?

This also raises another question, can I buy once and install it on both my desktop and laptop without the online check telling me I've already installed it once?

2K Elizabeth

10-30-2009, 10:24 AM

Yes, you can install the game on as many computers as you want. There are no activation limits at all, just a one-time online check and then you must have the disk in the drive to play.

BitRogue

10-30-2009, 12:45 PM

Thank you Elizabeth, appreciate the prompt response. Im reasonably happy with that answer so I'll probably head off to try and pick up the game just now.

I would like to add that I share the same sentiments as the original poster, Syvere, in that at some stage in the far flung future I could conceivably be firing this game up again, for old times sake like I currently do with the good ol Duke Nukem, Doom and Frontier Elite golden oldies :-) . I'd hate to find out that when I do so with Borderlands only to find out that the online server has been taken down for whatever reason and I can't install the game. I would assume there would be a patch toward the end of the lifecycle of the game that would remove any reliance on an external server (the installation single point of failure that is outside our hands), once you've milked the product for all its money's worth I guess.

Just posting my 2c in case it makes any difference. But thanks again for the short term info.

2K Elizabeth

10-30-2009, 01:23 PM

BitRogue

10-30-2009, 01:50 PM

OK, thanks Elizabeth. Will have to take your word on that, although I know you've probably repeated yourself a thousand times on here already. But my apologies though, no antagonism intended. We're all just running on some healthy paranoia out here in userland. (In a rare twist of fate where it appears I am now on the receiving end of a support query instead :) - so this is what it feels like to be a normal person and not know everything, heh )

[Side note - busy weekend this, same day release of the long awaited Borderlands as well as that of Ubuntu Linux 9.10, no sleep for me for the next few days :D ]

Colthor

11-02-2009, 05:24 AM

Hi,

Now that the game's released everywhere I'd like to bump the thread and repeat the question in the OP:

Will (do?) PC Borderlands copies printed after release still contain the online release-date check?

If not, is there any way to tell different copies apart? Any idea when retailers will start receiving those copies?

Not trying to pester, but I'd really like to know the answer. Thank you!

DDAVIDOBBAR

11-10-2009, 10:50 AM

DDAVIDOBBAR

11-10-2009, 10:59 AM

BitRogue -

I understand that worry and what we've said about games in the past is what I'll say now: We don't have any intention of letting the servers go down, and we will find a way to make sure you can always use your game.

I still cant get my borderlands pc game to get passed the release date check problem im told its a server issue from the company i am not to happy with that i hope they check into that or im out 49.99 bucks..im in virgina north part..

Colthor

11-10-2009, 03:20 PM

You could try the Offline Installer thing (maybe from another computer - it could be a networking/firewall or similar problem not letting it activate):
http://www.borderlandsthegame.com/activation/

Or look/ask on the game's tech support forum:
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/forumdisplay.php?f=90
They may know better than here.

Hope that helps, but as I don't have the game yet myself I can't really suggest much else.

2K Elizabeth

11-10-2009, 10:27 PM

I still cant get my borderlands pc game to get passed the release date check problem im told its a server issue from the company i am not to happy with that i hope they check into that or im out 49.99 bucks..im in virgina north part..

email me at 2KElizabeth@2KGames.com if customer service isn't helping you out and i'll help you sort this out.

Laser Eyes

11-15-2009, 03:09 PM

BitRogue -

I understand that worry and what we've said about games in the past is what I'll say now: We don't have any intention of letting the servers go down, and we will find a way to make sure you can always use your game.

It's good of 2K to at least say that they will make sure we can always use our game. Some companies don't even do that. But think about this. When a company is going out of business funds are usually very tight, staff are leaving and the last thing on their minds is to try to ensure past customers are going to be able to play games bought long ago. While I'm sure you have the best of intentions it isn't realistic to suggest that a patch will be released for old games.

2K Elizabeth

11-18-2009, 10:10 PM

It's good of 2K to at least say that they will make sure we can always use our game. Some companies don't even do that. But think about this. When a company is going out of business funds are usually very tight, staff are leaving and the last thing on their minds is to try to ensure past customers are going to be able to play games bought long ago. While I'm sure you have the best of intentions it isn't realistic to suggest that a patch will be released for old games.

We have helped out consumers in the past when this rare problem happens. In the past case, it was a digital distribution partner, and we made sure that consumers impacted got a copy of their game that they could continue to use.

And we're not going anywhere. ;)